Kathleen Brewer-Smyth

Dr. Kathleen Brewer-Smyth is a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on the neurobiological and biobehavioral impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma, and resilience. She investigates how ACEs influence mental health, obesity, sleep, HIV risk, alcohol misuse, and violent behaviors across lifespan populations, including prison inmates and homeless women. Her work emphasizes faith-based interventions and forgiveness as protective factors.

Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship and PhD in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional MSN and BSN degrees from the same institution. Specializations include neurology, adult health, and trauma care.

Research Interests: ACEs neuroscience, trauma-informed care, epigenetic aging acceleration, HPA axis dysfunction, neurodevelopmental disorders, and the role of spirituality in healing. She has published widely on resilience strategies, including diet, exercise, and nature-based interventions.

Recent Work: Her 2022 book Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Neuroscience of Trauma, Resilience and Healing won four AJN Book of the Year Awards. Key studies include the neurobiology of female homicide perpetrators, sleep quality in abuse survivors, and the impact of forgiveness on health outcomes.

Awards: FAAN (2014), UD Excellence in Teaching Award, and recognition in Delaware Today's Top Nurses (2022).

Grants: Supported by CDC, NIH, and foundations, including a 2020 UD grant examining post-traumatic neurobiology among female trauma victims. Recent funding includes an Open and Affordable Teaching Materials Grant (2021-2022).

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on bio-behavioral research, including the University of Delaware's Institute for Global Studies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.